Using CBD has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression in both human and animal studies. Anxiety and depression are common mental health disorders that can have devastating impacts on health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the single largest contributor to disability worldwide, while anxiety disorders are ranked sixth. Anxiety and depression are usually treated with pharmaceutical drugs, which can cause a number of side effects including drowsiness, agitation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and headache. What’s more, medications like benzodiazepines can be addictive and may lead to substance abuse. CBD has shown promise as a treatment for both depression and anxiety, leading many who live with these disorders to become interested in this natural approach. These qualities are linked to CBD’s ability to act on the brain’s receptors for serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and social behavior.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cbd-oil-benefits#section2
For treating depression, CBD appears to have some benefits over antidepressant medications. A 2019 animal study found that CBD has a fast and sustained antidepressant-like effect. CBD may also result in fewer side effects than antidepressant medication. Experts believe CBD’s potential benefits for depression are related to its positive effect on serotonin receptors in the brain. Low serotonin levels are likely connected to depression. CBD can replenish your body's serotonin levels and affect how your brain’s chemical receptors respond to the serotonin that’s already in your system.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-depression
Several studies published on PubMed Central found that CBD may reduce anxiety behaviors relevant to multiple disorders. Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=CBD+for+anxiety